Henry River Dam is a concrete dam located in Burke County, North Carolina, built in 1902. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 38 ft38 ft tall and 180 ft long, taller than 84% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Henry River Dam
The primary purpose of Henry River Dam is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Gary D Stutesman (private). It impounds the Henry Fork River.
The dam stands 38 feet tall and stretches 180 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 77 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 79 square miles. Completed in 1902, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/11/2024.
At 38 feet, this dam is taller than 84% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The North Carolina dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | North Carolina |
| County | Burke |
| River/Stream | Henry Fork River |
| Coordinates | 35.69390, -81.42680 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 38 ft |
| Dam Length | 180 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 64 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 79 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 386 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Gary D Stutesman |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/11/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NC00373 |
| Federal ID | NC00373 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |